With Parliament set to debate the rollout of Universal Credit, Tory MPs have been left confused after they were urged to ‘vote with their conscience’.
Some Tory MPs have already contacted the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) to ask where they can get a conscience and if it can be claimed on expenses.
“It seems highly irregular that we should be suddenly required to vote in this way without receiving any explanation as to what a conscience is,” said one backbencher.
“Is it a fancy pen or some kind of robe?”
In response to accusations that hurting vulnerable families was ‘at the heart’ of government policy, work and pensions secretary, David Gauke said:
“At the what, sorry?